Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 04:40 PM Apr 2013

How about a 3 strikes law for white collar crimes?

Let's consider something here.

We're constantly being told how things like drugs and gang activity are the scourge of modern society. So we throw people in prison for life if they make three mistakes. This is somehow suppose to protect the rest of us from the damage they might wreak on society.

Well, what about the executives who grenade our entire economy? It seems like they're doing not just more damage but almost incomprehensibly more damage to millions of people.

Maybe we should turn the tables here. If we find that you committed three white collar crimes, your ass gets a permanent residence at the nearest federal prison.

Let all of the pot dealers out of prison. Let the low level offenders go. Let's make room for the the most dangerous men and women.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How about a 3 strikes law for white collar crimes? (Original Post) Gravitycollapse Apr 2013 OP
+1 sakabatou Apr 2013 #1
+2 Euphoria Apr 2013 #5
It would be progress to prosecute them even once. snot Apr 2013 #2
Exactly. Three strikes implies three arrests Courtesy Flush Apr 2013 #8
Most of them bilk their millions or billions and Warpy Apr 2013 #3
We have already been given the word by the Attorney General. mick063 Apr 2013 #4
I would settle for even prosecuting and fining them. Cleita Apr 2013 #6
Which law, specifically, are you thinking of? What used to be criminal and is now legal? (nt) Nye Bevan Apr 2013 #10
I would love to go through the laundry list, but one only Cleita Apr 2013 #11
Here's a question customerserviceguy Apr 2013 #7
Bad idea, filling the prisons with poor schmucks who have written 3 bad checks Nye Bevan Apr 2013 #9

Warpy

(110,909 posts)
3. Most of them bilk their millions or billions and
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 04:45 PM
Apr 2013

make the money disappear somewhere. They're usually not repeat offenders.

I'd rather make the sentencing reflect the number of people they harmed.

These days, the only way for a white collar thief to go to prison is if he has the bad taste to bilk the rich. Fleecing the poor has become a sport and nobody cares about us.

 

mick063

(2,424 posts)
4. We have already been given the word by the Attorney General.
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 05:23 PM
Apr 2013

There are powerful folks that are "too big" to prosecute. Folks so very powerful, that our economic system is in jeopardy if prosecuted.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
6. I would settle for even prosecuting and fining them.
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 05:40 PM
Apr 2013

That isn't even happening. They have been changing the laws to make what was criminal legal.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
11. I would love to go through the laundry list, but one only
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 02:05 AM
Apr 2013

need use Google and look up what's been going on with banks, insurance companies and Wall Street the last decade. What was considered illegal in 1960 is quite legal now.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
7. Here's a question
Sun Apr 14, 2013, 05:55 PM
Apr 2013

Is that really an issue?

When three strikes laws are applied, it is not for three (or more) crimes on a single spree, it is for three offenses after you've already been caught, prosecuted, and served sentence for two separate periods of criminality.

Does anyone convicted of white collar crime really get a chance to do two, or especially three such instances? It seems to me that the most forgiving of potential employers would never take a chance on someone who screwed the company twice.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
9. Bad idea, filling the prisons with poor schmucks who have written 3 bad checks
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 12:56 AM
Apr 2013

in an attempt to raise money for their drug habit.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»How about a 3 strikes law...